Device for protecting pants and other garments from exposure to rain and other condensation

ABSTRACT

A device for protecting a portion of a person&#39;s pant leg and shoe from exposure to rain is disclosed. The device includes a waterproof sheath for encasing a portion of the pant leg, the water-resistant sheath having an upper edge opposite a lower edge, and a front panel opposite a back panel, or alternatively of unibody construction encasing the entire leg. The upper edge of the sheath includes a lip for compressing against the pant leg. A stirrup attached to the lower edge of the sheath is included, the stirrup passing underneath a person&#39;s shoe or foot to secure the lower edge of the sheath to a lower portion of the pant leg. In a rainy environment, the device covers a person&#39;s lower pant leg to prevent the pant leg and/or the person&#39;s shoe from exposure to rain and other condensation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 17/395,665 for a “Device for Protecting Pants and OtherGarments from Exposure to Rain and Other Condensation” to RandallRamsey, filed Aug. 6, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/503,808 for a “Device for Protecting Pants andOther Garments from Exposure to Rain and Other Condensation” to RandallRamsey, filed Jul. 5, 2019, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/841,276, filed on May 1, 2019, allof which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a protective gear or an outer garment.More specific, the present invention relates to a novel protective gearfor wearing over a person's pants to protect against rain and othercondensation.

BACKGROUND

Umbrellas are well known for protecting a person who must go outside ina rainy environment from becoming soaked by the rain. Umbrellas cast awide shield over the person's head such that rain does not strike theperson's head and portions of the person's upper body.

It is well known that umbrellas offer little protection against the rainas to the person's pants, particularly the lower portion of the pant legcovering a person's shins. This is particularly noticeable in heavydownpours or when rain is accompanied by wind such that the rain strikesa person at an angle. In such a downpour, the rain almost certainpenetrates and soaks the lower pant legs of a person, and potentiallythe socks and upper portions of a person's shoes.

None of the conventional rain gear prevents excessive exposure to rainagainst a person's lower pant legs and/or shoes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one non-limiting aspect of the present disclosure, anexample embodiment of a protective gear is disclosed for protecting aportion of a person's pant leg and shoe from exposure to rain isdisclosed. The device includes a waterproof sheath for encasing aportion of the pant leg, the water-resistant sheath having an upper edgeopposite a lower edge, and a front panel opposite a back panel. Theupper edge of the sheath includes a lip for compressing against the pantleg. A stirrup attached to the lower edge of the sheath is included, thestirrup passing underneath a person's shoe or foot to secure the loweredge of the sheath to a lower portion of the pant leg. In a rainyenvironment, the device covers a person's lower pant leg to prevent thepant leg and/or the person's shoe from exposure to rain and othercondensation.

Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will beapparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of the protective gear described herein may bebetter understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a front view of the protective gear described herein;

FIG. 2 depicts a side view of a lower portion of the protective geardescribed herein, wherein the protective gear affixes around a person'sshoe;

FIG. 3A depicts a side view of an upper portion of the protective geardescribed herein, according to one embodiment of the claimed invention,wherein the protective gear affixes to a person's pant or leg;

FIG. 3B depicts a side view of an upper portion of the protective geardescribed herein, according to another embodiment of the claimedinvention, wherein the protective gear affixes to a person's pant orleg;

FIG. 4 depicts a front view of the protective gear when being worn on aperson's legs, the protective gear demonstrating branding and/orsponsorships;

FIG. 5A depicts one embodiment of a bottom attachment of the protectivegear of the present invention; and

FIG. 5B depicts another embodiment of a bottom attachment of theprotective gear of the present invention.

A skilled artisan will appreciate the foregoing details, as well asothers, upon considering the following Detailed Description of certainnon-limiting embodiments of the protective gear according to the presentdisclosure. One of ordinary skill also may comprehend certain of suchadditional details upon using the protective gear described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure, in part, is directed to a water-resistantprotective gear or an outer garment for covering a portion of a person'spant leg to protect a person's pant leg and shoe from exposure to rainand other condensation.

As shown in FIG. 1 , a waterproof protective gear 10 is disclosed forencasing a portion of a person's pant leg 20 (FIGS. 3A and 3B). Theprotective gear 10 includes an upper edge 30 opposite a lower edge 40.The protective gear includes a front panel 50 that stretches around thefront of a person's leg and is joined to a back panel opposite the frontto form a bell-shaped enclosure that circumnavigates a person's leg.Alternatively, the front panel 50 may wrap around the entire leg andjoin with itself as a one-piece or unibody construction with a singleseam. The upper edge 30 has a lip 60 (FIG. 3A) for compressing against aperson's pant leg. A stirrup 70 is attached to the lower edge 40 forsecuring the lower edge of the protective gear 10 to a person's foot orshoe 80. The protective gear 10 typically is made from a lightweightplastic, vinyl, or polycarbonate, or other such waterproof and/orwater-resistant material. For instance, the protective gear 10 may bemade from material similar to a rain poncho or lightweight rain jacket.Alternatively, the protective gear 10 may be made from a rain-resistantfabric, such as materials typically used in lightweight rain jacketsand/or wind breakers. Alternatively still, the protective gear 10 may bemade from rubber, neoprene, leather, nylon, polyester, pongee and/orother water-resistant materials.

As shown in FIG. 2 , a lower portion of the protective gear 10 is shown.The lower edge 40 has a stirrup 70 attached thereto, the stirrup 70passing underneath a person's foot or shoe 80. The stirrup 70 may be asingular piece, as shown, that loops from one side of the lower edge 40to the other. Alternatively, the stirrup 70 may be comprised of twopieces, such as straps or ties, that come down and join underneath aperson's foot or shoe 80, or on the side of the person's foot, shoe, orleg. For instance, stirrup 70 may be comprised of two straps thatconnect together with hooks and loops (e.g., VELCRO®), buttons, snaps,and the like. Alternatively, the stirrup 70 may be comprised of two tiesthat are joined together with a knot. Stirrups 70 may be made of anydurable and resilient fabric or material. In one embodiment, thestirrups 70 are made of a resilient elastomer, such as rubber orneoprene, or an elastic stretch band, which stretches to accommodate anysize foot.

According to one embodiment of the claimed invention, as shown in FIG.3A, the upper edge 30 of protective gear 10 includes a lip 60 thatsecures to a person's pant leg 20. The lip 60 is elastomeric toaccommodate any size leg, wide or small. The lip 60 may be an elasticband, similar to a waist band, or may be woven with elastic threads,similar to the upper portion of a sock. Alternatively, the lip 60 may bea separate component, such as a rubber band, that passes over the upperedge 30 of the protective gear 10 to hold it against the pant leg 20.

According to another embodiment of the claimed invention, as shown inFIG. 3B, the upper edge 30 of protective gear 10 includes a drawstring62 that secures to a person's pant leg 20. The drawstring has ends 64,66 that are pulled to cinch the upper edge 30 comfortably snug against aperson's leg, to accommodate any size leg, wide or small. The ends 64,66 are tied to maintain the position of the upper edge 30 against a leg.The drawstring 62 preferably travels within the upper edge 30 of theprotective gear 10, but also may travel outside of and on top of theprotective gear 10.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the front panel 50 of the protective gear 10 may bedecorated with the logos 90 of sponsors, or may include branding 100 of,for instance, an athletic team. The broad size of the front panel 50,which may feature such sponsorship, makes the protective gear 10beneficial for use at any outdoor event, including but not limited tosporting events, such as a baseball game, or musical concerts, whereintermittent rain may be an issue.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the stirrup 70 may attach to the protective gear 10via a hook-and-loop connection 112, or similar, composed of hook matingsurface 114 and loop mating surface 116. Connection 112 may be a VELCRO®fastener, or similar style of fastener, with mating surfaces 114, 116.This provides for an efficient fastening of the stirrup 70 after aperson has pulled the protective gear 10 over the lower portion of theleg. A hook-and-loop connection 112 also provides for adjustment of thestirrup 70 to accommodate any size shoe or boot.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5B, the stirrup 70 may be attached tothe protective gear 10 via a buckle 110, or similar fastener. Thisprovides for an efficient fastening of the stirrup 70 after a person haspulled the protective gear 10 over the lower portion of the leg, andalso provides for adjustment of the stirrup 70 to accommodate any sizeshoe or boot. Use of a buckle 110 also may provide for a moresophisticated look, which may be desirable depending on personalpreferences. For instance, in this embodiment, the stirrup 70 may bemade of a leather or leather-like material, for coupling with a brass ormetallic buckle 110, for a more upscale appearance.

In use, a person slips on the protective gear 10 over a lower portion ofthe pant leg 20, generally over the shin area, affixing the upper edge30 of the protective gear against the pant leg 20, and pulling thestirrup 70 underneath the person's foot or shoe 80. The protective gear10 generally covers the lower portion of the person's pant leg 20 andpotentially the shoe 80, thereby protecting the pant leg and shoe fromexcessive exposure to rain or other condensation, such as standing wateron the ground that may be kicked up on the lower pant leg 20 as theperson walks. The protective gear 10 may be removed when the person isno longer in the rainy environment, and dried by setting the protectivegear 10 on a flat surface or hanging the protective gear 10 on aclothesline or similar device or surface. Once dry, the protective gear10 can be folded up for storage in a small pouch, purse, or coat pocket.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present subjectmatter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is thereforeintended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appendedset of claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for protecting a portion of a person'spant leg and shoe from exposure to rain or other condensation, thedevice comprising: a waterproof sheath configured to encase at least aportion of the pant leg, the water-resistant sheath having an upper edgeopposite a lower edge; the upper edge having a lip configured tocompress against the pant leg; and a stirrup attached to the lower edgeof the sheath, the stirrup configured to pass underneath a person's shoeor foot to secure the lower edge of the sheath to a lower portion of thepant leg.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the sheath is generallytubular shaped, having a single panel configured to encase a lowerportion of the person's pant leg.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein thesheath has a front panel opposite a back panel, the front and backpanels configured to join together to envelop a lower portion of theperson's leg.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the sheath has a frontpanel having a flat surface configured for the display of printedindicia.
 5. The device of claim 4 wherein the printed indicia relates toadvertising material.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein the lip at theupper edge has an elastomeric band, said band integrated within theupper edge of the sheath.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein the lip atthe upper edge has an elastomeric band residing over the upper edge ofthe sheath.
 8. The device of claim 1 further comprising a drawstringpassing through the upper edge of the sheath, the drawstring configuredto tighten the upper edge against the person's leg.
 9. The device ofclaim 1 wherein the stirrup is configured to pass from one side of thesheath, under the person's shoe, and attaches to the opposite side ofthe sheath.
 10. The device of claim 1 wherein the stirrup has twoportions, each said portion attached to the sheath and configured topass underneath the person's shoe to join together.
 11. The device ofclaim 10 wherein the stirrup portions are configured to join togetherwith a hook-and-look fastener.
 12. The device of claim 10 wherein thestirrup portions are configured to join together with each portion beingtied to one another.
 13. A device for protecting a portion of a person'spant leg and shoe from exposure to rain or other condensation, thedevice comprising: a waterproof sheath configured to encase at least aportion of the pant leg, the water-resistant sheath having an upper edgeopposite a lower edge; the upper edge having a lip configured tocompress against the pant leg; a stirrup attached to the lower edge ofthe sheath, the stirrup configured to pass underneath a person's shoe orfoot to secure the lower edge of the sheath to a lower portion of thepant leg; and a buckle attached to the stirrup to the lower edge of thesheath, wherein the buckle is configured to shorten or lengthen thestirrup.
 14. The device of claim 13 wherein the stirrup is configured topass through and connect with the buckle in one of a plurality ofpositions, thereby changing the length of the stirrup to accommodatediffering shoe sizes.
 15. The device of claim 13 wherein the stirrup isattached to the sheath at both ends with of a pair of buckles.
 16. Adevice for protecting a portion of a person's pant leg and shoe fromexposure to rain or other condensation, the device comprising: awaterproof sheath configured to encase at least a portion of the pantleg, the water-resistant sheath having an upper edge opposite a loweredge; the upper edge having a lip configured to compress against thepant leg; a stirrup attached to the lower edge of the sheath, thestirrup configured to pass underneath a person's shoe or foot and tosecure the lower edge of the sheath to a lower portion of the pant leg;and a hook-and-loop fastener attaching the stirrup to the lower edge ofthe sheath, wherein the fastener is configured to shorten or lengthenthe stirrup.
 17. The device of claim 16 wherein the stirrup connectswith the sheath with the hook-and-loop fastener in one of a plurality ofpositions, thereby changing the length of the stirrup to accommodatediffering shoe sizes.
 18. The device of claim 16 wherein the stirrup isattached to the sheath at both ends with a pair of hook-and-loopfasteners.